The World Beyond The Veil

Floating in the maddeningly, cold darkness that was his own mind. Matt sought something; something real and meaningful. Something warm to ignite his soul with emotion. Something real.

Memories flowed by before his eyes, fond old memories of his times with his family. Bleak, empty memories after his transition from child to adult. They all drained of colour as he watched them pass by, some he watched with fading defiance, others he let flow by without desire to see them remain.

Within that darkness, he became aware of something not himself. Something alien yet also familiar, within that entity he felt some warmth; he felt joy.

Following the essence of emotion, Matt found himself floating in a warm ocean. The waves soothingly washing back and forth as they eased the chill from his bones and filled him with comfort. In this place, he found he could rest. His mind falling into a deeper slumber within that warm emotion.

“Ah a new dreamer. How interesting. Welcome person Matt.” The voice disjointed and frightening within this sea of warmth. He chose to bear it no mind, opening his eyes into a dream unfamiliar to him.

Surrounded by red and pink silks and soft sheets Matt found himself in the body of a child, a young girl at that. Powerless he watched life from her eyes feeling the drowsiness lift from her young body as she yawned stretching her muscles in greeting to the new day.

She groaned lightly, still wanting to sleep for longer but infused with a will to move from the bed. She had important things to do today and couldn’t afford to sleep in any longer.

Matt could tell from her size that she must have been around 8 or 9 years old by his reckoning. Her small hands and short height gave him a strange perspective of the world. Though it was the richness of colour in the room around him which brought warmth to his heart.

Crawling out from the massive bed, her hands sinking into the soft mattress as she moved, she swept aside the silk surrounding the bed. Outside she could see multiple pieces of intricately carved whitewood furniture and a room floored in white marble. It was the beauty of simple colours making the bed stand out as the one loud piece of furniture in the room.

She swung herself off the bed, slipping and falling over herself in the process; her legs having gotten caught in her sheets as she moved.

Groaning again she lay on the cool ground a little longer, letting the chill sink into her body until she was desperate enough to move. Finally forced to escape from the chilling marble floor she ran over to the wardrobe which held her dresses.

The wardrobe was made out of a pale wood detailed with silver and stood around twice as tall as herself, though she was starting to grow taller. Yesterday had been her 10th name day and she’d grown a lot since last year, tearing open the beautifully intricate doors in front of her, she revealed a line of beautifully made dresses. They were almost all covered in silver and gold with some kind of gemstone weaved into them somewhere, but the brightest one was at the front.

It was a gift from yesterday, the wrists of the dress had little emeralds shining while the neck was a gold chain inlaid with so many diamonds that it’s weight threatened to choke her when she wore it. She quickly tore past that dress, too occupied searching for her usual garb to properly look at it.

After a short time, she’d located the dress hidden up the furthest back corner of the wardrobe. a simple red dress without any gold, silver or gems. The delicate parts of the dress which had once been so beautiful and expensive, were so worn out that it looked little different from what commoners wore.

Realizing she was short on time she quickly tore off her nightwear and threw her dress over her head before putting underclothes on. Just as she finished wriggling into her clothes comfortably there was a knock at the door. Without waiting for a reply a young maid walked into the room, her brown hair was tied up in a bun and she dressed in a simple white uniform with some frills at her feet.

“Theresa? Up and dressed already?” She finally noticed the dress she was wearing, “And dressed in that, I see it’s going to be one of those days then. Why are you so obsessed with this dress?”

“Harui, as you can see I’m perfectly well dressed.” She replied to her maid. Harui was a plain young woman of average proportions and a face that was easily forgotten but to Theresa she was a very important person.

“Yes, well today you must wear you new dress. There are some matters to attend to this morning and the Queen will be upset if you wear anything else.” She was already poking her head into the wardrobe instantly taking out the dress in question.

“I’m not going to see her after this morning so why do I have to wear that.” She argued, her words carrying a childish note.

“How about this, if you wear this dress for breakfast and the farewell ceremony then I’ll help you get changed into your favourite dress afterwards.” She held up the dress in both hands the weight from the gold making her strain slightly.

“But I don’t want to.” She grumped her hands curled up to fists in her red dress. “It’s heavy and uncomfortable.”

“Okay then, but you know the Queen, your mother, will be upset with you. Is that okay with you?” the maid started putting the dress away slowly careful of the many gems in it.

Theresa didn’t reply immediately, her face contorted as she thought it over. Mother was scary when she upset her too much, and she did hurt Harui because of it too, justifying that it was her fault that Theresa wasn’t well disciplined.

With an exhausted sigh, she asked the maid, “I can change back after?”

“Only if you don’t tell anyone.” Harui gave her a sly smile, keeping her secret.

“Fine.” As soon as consent was given the maid was changing her, quickly throwing her red dress back into the wardrobe and pulling out the heavy dress.

Theresa stepped into the bottom part of the dress and moved hands forwards to go into the sleeves. They ‘d both gone through this song and dance so many times that both moved with confidence. Unlocking the neck cage made of gold and diamonds Harui slid it up and around her neck, restricting her breathing a little.

“Is that okay?” She asked, making certain that it hadn’t pinched her anywhere.

“It’s fine.” Theresa replied grumpily, rubbing at the metal chains. Harui then started to weave shut the back of her dress, each movement forcing air from her lungs. “Why are these made so tight?” She asked between puffs.

“So that you look more beautiful… apparently.” Harui finished and tied up the dress. “There we go, just as beautiful as any queen.”

“I like the other one better.” She mumbled too low for her maid to hear.

Harui had her spin around to inspect the dress and make sure that nothing was loose. “Now, you’re ready.” She said petting the girl on her head before guiding her over to a chair she’d set up looking out the huge window, “Now your hair.” She said sitting young Theresa down on the wooden chair.

Her hands brushed out Theresa’s hair with practised precision moving with quick thrusts taking out the few knots that formed overnight while humming to herself. The tune was familiar, a song that Harui was partial to for reasons she never explained, it’d become a comforting backdrop for Theresa who felt safe and warm while hearing it.

Outside the large ornate window, Theresa could see an entire city laid out before her, people as small as insects moved with dedication as they walked from one little house to another. She could see some at work dragging carts around the town, people were moving back and forth along the markets while the merchants silently cried out their wares.

Her darting eyes soon found the towns blacksmith, Bub; a powerful woman who had muscles larger than any man she’d ever seen. Having only met her briefly here and there she didn’t know the woman all that well but wished that she could go down there and speak with the people properly.

They weren’t wearing overly colourful things as far as she could tell form this height, but there were still colourful lines and patterns brightening their tops. Not to mention the colour in their faces and smiles that she couldn’t make out from this distance. She was forever at a distance one way or another.

Harui quickly moved onto styling, weaving Theresa’s hair into a gem encrusted ornament, letting the pony tail formed hang down her left shoulder. Her blonde hair, dark enough to almost be considered brown, shone in the sunlight that came through the window.

“Do I have to wear that thing?” She pointed at the hair ornament that made the left side of her head feel heavier than the right.

“It’s the queens wishes.” Harui replied, “Take it out if you don’t mind upsetting her.” She spoke while making sure that there were no loose hairs hanging out of place.

“Why does she make me wear things like this all the time, why can’t I just wear what the other kids wear?” She asked back giving up on removing her heavy head weight.

“What other kids?” Harui asked with a slight smile on her face.

“Egh” Theresa choked on her words thinking she might’ve said more than she should’ve.

After a brief pause Harui answered, “You aren’t like all the other kids, you’re a princess.” She smiled gently down to Theresa, “You’ll get used to it as you grow up.”

“I don’t want to get used to it,” Theresa mumbled argumentatively.

Today she’d even made the effort to change before Harui arrived hoping that that would be enough to keep from wearing this hideous dress. All to no avail.

“All right, stand up.” Harui pulled out the chair as Theresa stood, “Perfect, you look beautiful, I’m sure all of the girls in town are jealous of you.”

Theresa grunted in reply, walking over to where she stored her shoes, “At least let me pick the shoes,” she demanded.

“If you choose something acceptable.” Harui replied, as good a servant as she was she always forced Theresa into uncomfortable clothes. Looking through the layers of shoes she quickly found a pair that she was familiar with. Even they were covered in gold with some few gems inlaid within but as elegant as they were they were still comfortable to wear unlike all the other shoes in the closet.

In short order the maid led her out the door to a long series of curled steps. With Harui leading, they walked down the spire passing by her the maid’s room underneath her own.

The stone stairs chilled her feet through the soul of her shoes, she had to walk slowly and carefully for fear of tripping on her dress. The massive weight on her neck and shoulders from the gold in her dress and hair made this twice as troubling.

Little arrow slits let in light every half a dozen steps but it wasn’t quite enough to ward away the darkness that gathered between. These stairs had killed her last servant when she carelessly fell down them, and she was sure that they’d taken other lives as well.

At the bottom of the stairs they entered a world of overly sized gaudy paintings of the country’s monarchs. Overhead, as if to make up for the darkness of the stairs, were a set of glass chandeliers every few metres giving off far too much light. In this bright space the gold in her dress glowed with enough power to make Theresa wince.

Only a short distance away Harui opened one of a pair of massive doors leading into a brightly decorated dining room. What was not gold or silver was made from the purest whitewood that could be found in the land. The walls were covered with yet more ancient monarchs, the roof covered in golden chandeliers and lofty etchings.

The pure whitewood table was at least two dozen metres long with space enough for at least half a hundred people. Each chair had been precisely made identical to the next by a well renown, long dead carpenter from the same whitewood as the table.

It was the envy of any person in the city but the sight disgusted Theresa. The room was cold, quiet, even with room for so many people she’d never seen it seat more than two or three at a time.

Again, the queen wasn’t here, likely attending some war council or another.

As the eldest child of the family she was to sit at the head of the table, a position she despised, while all others were seated below her. Harui pulled back the chair for her Theresa, pushing it in for her as she sat down at the table waiting for her food.

Almost the same instant, the doors to the kitchen opened to allow through a waiter carrying a tray. The waiter wore a simple robe, as they all did, the tray in his hands shining brightly in silver.

Underneath was revealed to be a fine soup, the waiter candidly told her of the distant and rare animals that died to serve her breakfast. Including the many hunters who died along the way.

Theresa held back the sickness in her stomach as she carefully picked up the soup spoon. As usual the soup tasted perfect but she pretended as if it were mediocre, unable to express any gladness for this wasteful luxury.

She finished the soup quickly, forcing herself to remain calm, as she let her utensils be carried off. She was anxious about today, for the first time in months her mother had called on her. Supposedly there was a farewell celebration for her brother but Theresa was smart enough to know she wouldn’t be called out for that alone.

The same waiter returned with another tray, this time atop it were small strips of meat cooked over large eggs that she was unfamiliar with. She ignored the details of their procurement, forcing herself to stomach the flavourful food.

After taking away the plates again, the waiter arrived with an after-breakfast tea. As he settled the tea cup down on the table a little of it spilt to the table, wetting the tablecloth underneath. The man froze, if it was her mother he was dealing with, he’d be lucky to get away with a beating.

With some spite for her mother rising in her heart, she took hold of the cup and intentionally poured more out onto the spill. “Oh my, it seems that I’ve made a mess, clean it in short order or mother might get upset.” She said with a gentle voice.

“eh, ah, yes princess, thank you kindly, princess.” The man ran from the room tears in his eyes. Behind her Theresa could sense Harui smiling.

The young princess heard a whisper behind her so quiet she suspected she wasn’t supposed to hear it. “You’re going to be an amazing queen.”

The meal continued for a long while, good manners forcing her to take far longer than was appropriate to finish her meals in this cold room.

Harui leaned down beside her ear whispering to her, “We must go to the ceremony shortly, I will escort you when you are ready.”

“Please.” She replied giving her consent in the most positive way she could, it was an unusual word for her family.

The table was cleaned completely spotless in the time between standing up and leaving the room. The servants in the kitchen were amazingly careful and meticulous, but Theresa had always wished for them to be a little more relaxed. Just to have one of them tell her a joke or something while wearing a smile would be enough to put her at ease.

Harui led her through long decorative halls towards the worst part of the castle. Theresa’s anxiety grew worse the closer they got, as if she could sense the queen’s presence growing stronger as she walked.

A chilling mural of her mother filled a passing wall, it was far more ornate and expensive than any of the older works. She had it done intentionally only with layered gold and silver with her favourite emeralds serving as eyes.

Theresa could feel those eyes boring into her as she walked past. Finally, as she left that mural behind she was faced with an even greater threat to her mental health.

Behind the massive whitewood doors ahead, she could hear her mother’s voice booming in the massive throne room. The doors opened and Theresa was immediately blasted with the light from a massive golden throne.

“You will travel with them until you have grown into a man worthy of being the general of an army!” Her mother yelled aloud, her voice frustrated.

The boy she was yelling down at was Theresa’s younger brother, a boy she’d rarely had the opportunity to meat. His clothes were more plain than her own by a significant degree, and his head hung low. She could just make out the shining of tears flowing down his cheeks.

“Don’t cry. Warriors don’t cry.” The queen looked down as the shuddering boy whelped at her every word. “You won’t be an embarrassment to your people, either you become strong or die before you come back.”

Wiping away the tears that he struggled to contain, he bowed to the queen, “Yes, your highness.” His voice quivered as he spoke.

“Hurry up and go, before anyone in town has to see your pathetic image.” In reply the boy let himself be escorted out by tall men in black coats, they headed out a side door instead of the main entrance.

The queen turned, walking away from the throne and over to Theresa, “And here is my precious daughter.” Her face lit up with pride, not as a mother to her child but more like a blacksmith looking down at her perfectly forged sword.

She was dressed in a gold coloured dress decorated with varying shades of emerald. She wore so much that Theresa had to think that she was as strong as Bub the blacksmith under those clothes.

“Your highness,” Theresa lowered her head slightly to the queen, it wasn’t proper for the heiress to ever bow too deeply, even to the queen.

“You saw how I dealt with that, you will need to do the same one day, if you ever have a worthless child of your own.” She said loudly enough for the retreating boy to hear before he left the room.

“Yes mother.” She replied subserviently.

“Today is a special day for you. The towns prisons are being cleaned out and I’m having you preside over judgement.” Her mother excitedly told her. Surprising the young princess with a duty that was beyond her age.

Theresa had a growing ball of sickness forming in her stomach as she looked back up to the queen. Her true emotions disguised under a mask of indifference.

“For the petulant young child you were, you really are growing up, one day you will be a queen better than I ever was.” She proclaimed taking pride in the future she’d planned.

“Yes mother.” She replied forcing her face to remain still.

“Follow along then, and remember a Queen always leads, and is always right.” She led the way ahead down the length of the room, her hair swaying side to side from the weight of its ornaments. Theresa would have found it funny if it were anyone else.

Pushing open the massive doors herself, light spread in over them. The sound of a crowd of people waiting outside washed over her as she stepped forwards with feigned pride after her mother.

In the wide courtyard were hundreds of people, the children were lined up at the front of the roaring crowd. Theresa looked for familiar faces but gladly she couldn’t see any among them.

To the side, waiting behind a small portcullis, were the prisoners lined up for judgement. The faces were sober and gentle, most of their bodies had deteriorated into nothing but bones and skin. She naturally felt sympathy for them.

A massive axe held in the hands of their executioner, sat only a few metres ahead of her. Standing on legs that were shaking beneath her skirt she commanded to the crowd. “Silence.” She did not yell, it was said in a voice just as loud as usual but the crowd very quickly quieted.

“Today I judge the guilt of these criminals. Today, I remove the murderers and thieves from your number so that you may continue to live in peace.” She said the same words that her mother usually spoke, her voice firm and commanding, though her heart was trembling in her chest. Legs didn’t stop trembling as she stood in place of the queen, her words the law of this place.

She waved towards the guards at the prison portcullis, “Let the first criminal plead their case.”

First up was a man whose skin was covered in scars and rippling muscles; he hadn’t been imprisoned long. The guard read the charges, while the prisoner was knelt down before the executioner his head resting on the chopping block.

“This criminal is accused of murdering three merchants within the city streets after dark. He then separated the corpses into parts and spread them across town.” Theresa felt sick as she saw the man, his face completely indifferent to his supposed crimes.

“Do you admit to these crimes?” She asked the man, he grunted but didn’t give proper reply there was a slight smirk on his face. She gave the executioner a confident nod as she watched on, her face masked in indifference while her gut screamed out in horror and disgust.

The mans body shook spraying a few blood droplets her direction as his head rolled towards he, she was always to watch their head fall. The disembodied head was quickly taken up and impaled on a spike, in front of the crowd for which they cheered loudly. The children at the front taking on the same cry of blood that they learned from their elders.

While the man’s body was still spreading blood out over the courtyard the next victim was ushered into place. This time it was a young boy, soon to enter his teens, he had the look of the average street rat, as they referred to themselves.

“This criminal is accused of stealing a chicken from a farm just outside of town.” The boy was weeping but did not try to speak out against the claims.

For Theresa this crime hit her too close to home, once before when she’d snuck out from the castle she’d done just the same thing herself.

“Do you admit to these crimes?” She asked the boy kneeling before her, his neck already coated in the blood of the murderer that came before him.

“Yes, your highness.” He replied, knowledgeable enough to use the term highness, since she was acting with the voice of the queen.

Right now, she had a choice, she could choose to go ahead with the execution or to pardon him, in a form. As distasteful as it was she chose the latter, cringing at what this would mean for the boy.

“I see no need for you to die today, you shall join in the military criminal legion.” A group of soldiers who are used as fodder and distraction against enemy forces. Nobody survived through service, or so Harui had told her.

Her mother on the other hand had once said that it is a noble position for the commoners to take, even going as far as to say that more should volunteer for the genderless role.

The man was walked out of from the courtyard with a pair of guards, quickly he was pulled from sight.

Next was a young woman, her hands bound tightly. She was worn down, her skin cut in numerous places and her eyes glazed over as if she was staring into the past. She didn’t seem to be aware of where she was.

“This criminal is accused of stealing food from the royal stores while serving the queens household. The supplies taken include bread, milk and various fruits.” The guard read out her charges showing no sign of sympathy in his voice.

Theresa recognised the young woman after he mentioned it, she’d worked in the kitchens while heavily pregnant only a few months ago. She’d feared that the girl had died in pregnancy but the truth was so much worse.

She was lined up her head resting gently on the block that was still bloody.

“Do you admit to these crimes?” She forced her voice out, making certain that it was confident.

“I did it for my baby…” she wept, “His father left, I had nothing…” Finally, she regained some life, she was facing Theresa, her eyes pleading, “Please don’t, Princess!” She cried out weakly, her arms restrained unable to reach out to her.

Why did you admit it? She thought to herself furiously, if you’d denied it I could have let you off somehow, I could have undone some little of this wrongness. She lifted her hand to the executioner, staring into the woman’s pleading eyes as they stabbed into her heart. The scene imprinting perfectly in her memory.

Her head fell clean off just like the first man, it was soon paraded before the crowd the same standing as the murderer before her.

Refusing to let emotions drag her down yet, Theresa kept on one after another. Some were easier than others but all of them were challenging. Soon it was getting to the late stages of the day, the sun having risen to its peak. The courtyard was filled with blood, and Theresa herself had plenty scattered across her skin. She regretted that she was unable to tell the difference between innocent blood and guilty.

The last prisoner was marched before her and the queen who stood pridefully at her side. The prisoner was a young girl, around her own age. Her face was bruised and battered. One of her hands had less fingers than she was born with.

“This criminal is accused of making false accusations against a member of court.” The girl had a distant look to her eyes, as she stared up at Theresa. She didn’t seem afraid as she settled her neck on the chopping block.

“What accusations?” She asked, this was one of the times she wasn’t meant to ask, she wasn’t mean to dig up that which had been swept under the carpet.

Her mother looked at her, eyes filling with disappointment.

“Ahem, the accusations were against a general of the military who is currently serving outside of this city. She accused this innocent man of unlawfully marrying an unwilling partner. Claiming that she never approved of the marriage.” Theresa’s gut wrenched as she looked down at the girl, who seemed impatient to get this over with. The girl was little older than her, she could hardly imagine being in her place right now.

With great difficulty, she forced back tears, swallowing down the heart that was caught in her throat. She watched the girl quietly whisper to herself, with great effort she forced words from her lips. “Do you…” Theresa’s voice broke and she swallowed again, “Do you admit to these… crimes?” The words barely escaped her trembling lips.

The girl continued to whisper quietly, Theresa couldn’t make out her words and stood frozen in place. This choice had already been made for her, she couldn’t save the girl. Even if she tried to proclaim her innocence, her mother would interfere. Swallowing back the bile in her throat she focused on the task she had to do.

Her mouth opened unable to shape the words that were expected of her. Unable to move her head or her arm to indicate guilt or innocence. Even knowing that she could do nothing she wasn’t able to have this young girl’s blood on her hands too. Her hand was quivering in place as her emotions threatened to break through her mask.

The girls whispers grew louder as the crowd began to quiet down, waiting for the decision. “kill me. Kill me. Kill me. Kill me! KILL ME!” she began screaming as she waited. The girls voice louder than anything else as she cried out for death.

Theresa’s eyes were locked with the girls, she saw the suffering she’d endured painted within those eyes. Those bright lively eyes. She continued screaming as the axe fell. Theresa too shocked to move a muscle in her body.

The head rolled forth, her body spraying out blood onto Theresa’s hands as she stood quietly looking around. Her mother’s hand was in the air, waving at the executioner who was now lifting his axe out of the young girls body.

Theresa wanted to scream, she wanted to weep, to cry and run out there in a rage beating against the executioner until he died as well. She wanted revenge for the girl whose blood stained her hands.

With a deep breath, she let those emotions wash away, letting her heart become cold as she stepped forward into the blood to address the crowd. Eyes still trailing after the girls head as it as paraded in front of her eyes.

“That is all for the day, be assured there are no longer any criminals among you and again your queen has kept you safe.” She confidently let the words fall from her tongue, to her they were nothing but sounds. She quickly turned and left, letting the queen finish the address while she rushed back inside as quickly as she could without seeming suspicious.

The edges of her mask were cracking and opening up. Harui quickly led the young princess back to her room, not bothering to spare any words with her. The world swirling through tears that threatened to fall, she was glad that they at least hid the pictures of murderers and monsters as she walked past them.

They raced up the stairs to her room two at a time Theresa uncaring about the risk of falling as she recklessly threw her feet forward.

Harui opened Theresa’s door, and closed it behind her. As soon as she was alone she let out a bloodcurdling scream her bloody hands held tightly into her hair trying to pull it out. The pain helped to distract her from the despair raging within.

Her crazed fingers tore at the clasps on her dress, tearing at the cloth and metal until finally it gave way and she was able to strip off the hideous dress. She screamed again crawling up into a ball on the cold ground.

Eventually as time passed, her screams grew silent, replaced by the sound of her heavy breathing. She hated her mother, she hated the executioner, the people cheering, the guard who heartlessly told the story of their lives in a few words. Most of all she hated herself, for being too weak to stand up to her mother and to save that little girl.

Hands seeking something with real weight to it she grasped the golden hair ornament she’d worn all morning, tearing it free with little regard for the pain. Without thinking she threw it with all her strength at the window, shattering it apart as the worthless head weight fell into the courtyard below.

Theresa walked up to the window, now open to let in the powerful breeze. Below she could see her people still crying out in joy as the heads were paraded through their numbers.

Her head should be among them she realized through clouded eyes, I killed more innocent people today than any of those executed. She calmly laid her hand down on the broken glass sitting in the window frame; the sharp pain only helping her towards her conclusion. She deserved pain. She deserved to die.

Sounds seemed to fade away from her as her cursed heartbeat continued to pound in her chest. She leaned forwards out the window hoping for gravity to take away her sins.

She was dragged back inside by the hands of her maid before she was able to find salvation. Wordlessly they struggled against each other, Harui struggling to save the life that Theresa was adamant to throw away.

“Not like this.” She whispered to the young girl, “Not like this.” Gently she rocked Theresa back and forth as they both sobbed. Tears and blood staining the maid’s shirt for the hours that followed.

When Theresa came back to herself she was in bed wearing her favourite dress, something more comforting than her nightwear.

“Are you better now?” Harui asked her, gently stroking her hair while smiling sadly.

She shook her head stubbornly, the emotions still inside her chest, raging like a powerful storm.

“Then I’ll tell you a story until you feel like sleeping. After that you can wake up to a new day, without all of this. Okay?” She asked but continued before letting the young princess reply.

“Have you heard the story of Lilith the Saviour?” Theresa shook her head gently, “Long ago, in a time when magic was still used openly and the Sasahara Knights were nothing but a dream, there was a young queen of a small nation. Heval.”

“Heval, that’s mother’s country, isn’t it?” asked the little Theresa, already enchanted by Harui’s story telling voice.

“Heval is what we used to call this nation yes, though as you should know, now its call Valkel.” She replied before continuing the story.

“The other nations around hers were bigger and stronger always bullying and confronting them. And because Heval was so little they didn’t have a large enough army to fight them and win.

“So when large diamonds and emeralds were found in her land the bigger nations wanted them. They wanted them badly enough that they started to build up big armies, you see these nations were very honourable but also prideful. It wasn’t enough to take the Heval, they wanted to completely wipe out all of their soldiers with ease so that they looked strong.

“Lilith’s country only had a very small army, they couldn’t stand up to these horrible people. They didn’t stand a chance, so she turned to the demons for help.” Lilith shuddered at the name demons.

“At first the demons asked too much of her, “We will help you to defend your land if you give us every child in Heval,”

“The queen wasn’t willing to accept this deal, but still needed their strength, so she offered them herself, “Come, inhabit my body, become one with me and you can do as you wish so long as you save my country” but of course this was a trick.

“These demons seemed to think that by controlling the queen they would be able to do what they wanted with Heval but they underestimated her.

“You see this queen was clever and powerful, when she let these demons inside her mind and body she turned against them. They tried to pry the power away from Lilith who owned the body, but found themselves the powerless ones instead.

“You see Lilith was powerful enough to lock away those demons inside her, powerful enough to take control of the demon’s curses for herself. After that, the demons slept, their bodies dancing across her skin and their minds dreaming in the back of her mind. Small horns formed at the top of her skull to house the sleeping demons.

“She was able to move faster and strike harder than was ever possible for anyone in the world. She approached the neighbouring countries with her new-found strength and offered them a duel, if they could beat her in a two on one fight they were to share her country between them.”

“But if she won, the kings of these two countries would become her servants and their nations would forever leave hers alone. The kings prideful couldn’t turn down such an offer but agreed that after they defeated Heval that their warriors would duel for the entirety of the land and its riches.

“The day of the fight came and as she suspected both kings scoured the lands for the best warriors available, agreeing between them that the winner of this three-way duel would inherit all of the land of Heval.”

“As the warriors entered the arena, they saw that they were fighting against the queen herself and hesitated at the sight of her. At first, they laughed at her audaciousness but as they noticed her skin and her horns they started to grow nervous.

“The battle was started and before either of the warriors could even draw their swords the queen had cut through their armour, slicing them both in half. The sword she was using dented and broke from the force of her swings.

“After that day, she created the Sasahara Knights, an order of female knights who made these deals with demons in order to have the strength to protect the people. The Knights held no allegiance to any border or nation and aimed to keep the people safe from the effects of war.”

“Ever since, every girl from the age of sixteen has been allowed to join with them regardless of her past. Even a prisoner must be given the opportunity to join them and change their name as they leave their past behind. Though by joining they are officially ruled to be deceased and can never return to a normal life”

Theresa caught by the story asked her maid, “Anyone can join?”

Harui smiled gently, “Anyone over sixteen.”

The image of the poor girl, who was too young to have such an opportunity, assaulted Theresa’s closed eyes as she thought. “So, they die then, to become Knights?”

“In a way.” Harui comforted her, patting her head.

“I can’t wait until I’m sixteen.” She murmured as she let the nightmares drag away her consciousness.